Medical device with enhanced guide capabilities

Abstract

The present invention relates to a medical device including two parallel tubes attached to each other, one of which is shorter in length and receives a guide snare for directing the path of the catheter within a patient's blood vessels and into the patient's heart. The present invention further relates to a method of using a catheter comprising two tubes, whereby a guide snare is anchored to a shunt within a patient's heart and extends out of the patient's body, one of the tubes of the catheter being placed about the guide snare and the catheter being advanced into the patient's heart along the guide snare.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catheter comprising a first hollow tube and a substantially parallel second hollow tube: 
 the first hollow tube having a distal end, a proximal end, a length and a lumen connecting the distal end to the proximal end;    the second hollow tube having a distal end, a proximal end, a length and a lumen connecting the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end and the proximal end each including an opening into the lumen;    the length of the second hollow tube being substantially less then the length of the first hollow tube;    the second hollow tube being attached to the first hollow tube such that the distal end of the second hollow tube is proximate the distal end of the first hollow tube; and    the openings and lumen of the second hollow tube sized to receive a guide snare.    
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second hollow tube includes a lengthwise split through a wall of the second hollow tube from distal end to proximal end, the split normally closed, the second hollow tube made of material sufficiently deformable which will allow the guide snare to be inserted through the split into the lengthwise lumen of the second hollow tube and sufficiently resilient for the split to close after the guide snare is inserted.  
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second hollow tube is between 2.5 cm and 8 cm in length, preferably 8 cm.  
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the openings and the lumen of the second hollow tube are sized to permit free passage of a 4 French size guide snare.  
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second hollow tube is integral with the first hollow tube.  
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the second hollow tube is distinct from the first hollow tube and the second hollow tube bonded to an outer wall of the first hollow tube.  
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the first hollow tube includes one or more openings permitting fluid communication with the lumen of the first hollow tube through the distal end.  
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the first hollow tube includes a single opening permitting the passage of tools from within the lumen beyond the distal end of the first hollow tube.  
     
     
         9 . A method of positioning a catheter within a chamber of a heart of a patient, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shunt in place within the heart and a guide snare including a distal end, the distal end releasably anchored to the shunt within the heart, the guide snare extending out of the heart and a proximal end of the guide snare exiting the patient via an insertion site in a blood vessel;    attaching a catheter to the guide snare, the catheter including a first hollow tube and a second hollow tube, the second hollow tube adapted to fit about the guide snare;    advancing the catheter along the guide snare through the insertion site into the patient's blood vessel and into the heart chamber.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second hollow tube of the catheter includes a distal end, a proximal end and an opening through the second hollow tube connecting the distal end and the proximal end, and catheter is attached to the guide snare by inserted the proximal end of the guide snare into the distal end of the second hollow tube.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second hollow tube of the catheter includes a distal end, a proximal end, an opening through the second hollow tube connecting the distal end and the proximal end, and a lengthwise split through a wall of the second hollow tube from distal end to proximal end, the split normally closed, the second hollow tube made of material sufficiently deformable which will allow the guide snare to be inserted through the split into the opening of the second hollow tube and sufficiently resilient for the split to close after the guide snare is inserted, and the catheter is attached to the guide snare by inserted the guide snare through the split into the opening.  
     
     
         12 . A medical device comprising a first elongate instrument and a guide tube: 
 the first elongate instrument having a distal end, a proximal end, a length and a lumen connecting the distal end to the proximal end;    the guide tube having a distal end, a proximal end, a length and a lumen connecting the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end and the proximal end each including an opening into the lumen;    the length of the guide tube being substantially less then the length of the first elongate instrument;    the guide tube being attached to the first elongate instrument such that the distal end of the guide tube is proximate the distal end of the first elongate instrument; and    the openings and lumen of the guide tube sized to receive a guide snare.    
     
     
         13 . A catheter comprising a first hollow tube and a guide ring: 
 the first hollow tube having a distal end, a proximal end, a length and a lumen connecting the distal end to the proximal end;    the guide ring having a opening for receiving a guide snare such that the guide snare extends essentially parallel to the to the length of the first hollow tube;    the guide ring being attached to the first hollow tube proximate the distal end of the first hollow tube; and    the guide ring including a split to allow a guide snare to be inserting within the guide ring and releasably retaining the guide snare within the guide ring.